Appendix_B_Shook_and_Ritchie_40milePEFA_2004_2006_Redacted.pdf

Printed on recycled paper.

PEREGRINE FALCON SURVEYS IN

THE FORTYMILE NATIONAL WILD AND

SCENIC RIVER CORRIDOR, ALASKA, 2004 AND 2006

FINAL REPORT

Prepared for

Bureau of Land Management

1150 University Avenue

Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

February 2007

Redacted iii Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................................ iii

LIST OF APPENDICES............................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................ iv

INTRODUCTION

STUDY AREA

METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

SPRING AND SUMMER CONDITIONS

OCCUPANCY AND PRODUCTIVITY

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

LITERATURE CITED

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Study areas for Peregrine Falcon surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2004 and 2006

Figure 2. Distribution, occupancy, and nest fate of Peregrine Falcon sites recorded during boat and aerial surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2004

Figure 3. Distribution, occupancy, and nest fate of Peregrine Falcon sites recorded during boat surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2006

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Location and river mileage of Peregrine Falcon surveys on the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River, Alaska, 2004 and 2006

Table 2. Weather records and deviations from monthly long-term means during May–July at Eagle, Alaska, 2000–2006

Table 3. Occupancy, nesting success, and productivity of Peregrine Falcons on the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River, Alaska, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2006

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Status of Peregrine Falcon sites from occupancy and productivity surveys on the Fortymile River, Alaska, 2004 and 2006

Appendix 2. Completed USFWS raptor nest cards for successful or suspected peregrine nest locations

Appendix 3. Digital copies of all field notes

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys iv

Appendix 4. Labeled digital photographs of raptor nest site locations

Appendix 5. Arc view compatible data file of raptor nest locations using latitude and longitude coordinates

Introduction

1 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

INTRODUCTION

The Alaska population of the American Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrines anatum) was listed as endangered in 1970 under the Endangered Species Act. Breeding populations along rivers like the Fortymile River in Alaska had declined precipitously in the 1960s and early 1970s due to the effects of pesticides (Ambrose et al. 1988).

After the use of the pesticide DDT was severely restricted and conservation strategies were established, the American Peregrine Falcon population increased and this subspecies was delisted in August 1999. All Peregrine Falcons in this study are the anatum subspecies and are hereafter called “Peregrine Falcons” or “peregrines.”

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funded the first comprehensive efforts to inventory Peregrine Falcons on the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River (FNWSR) during 2000 and 2001, in response to land-use plan prescriptions (Jacobs 2003). In 2002 and 2003, non-systematic inventories for raptors also were conducted by BLM. In 2004, conducted systematic surveys along the FNWSR for BLM (Shook and Ritchie 2004). also conducted aerial surveys for Peregrine Falcons along various floatable and non-floatable sections of the FNWSR during 1994–1997 (Ritchie et al. 1998). Funding was not available to perform surveys in 2005.

In 2006, building on the inventory work in 2000–2001 and 2004, BLM again contracted to continue comprehensive efforts to monitor the population of Peregrine Falcons along the floatable sections of the FNWSR. The main objectives of our surveys were to provide BLM land managers and biologists with current information on the occupancy and productivity of Peregrine Falcons along the FNWSR. Data from these systematic surveys will provide essential information to satisfy BLM’s mandate to protect peregrines under the multi-use management policies established for the FNWSR.

STUDY AREA

The Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, managed by BLM, is composed of 357 miles of protected streams and rivers. This river is located in east-central Alaska, 190 miles east of Fairbanks and 90 miles north of Tok (Figure 1). The river corridor is characterized by rolling, vegetated hills and steep river valleys broken up by several forking tributaries that eventually form the main stem of the Fortymile River, which flows northeast into the Yukon River. Cliff substrates range from treeless, grassy bluffs to sheer rock faces greater than 100 m high. Topography ranges from low, flat muskeg (400 m above sea level [asl]) to mountains above tree line (1,800 m asl) (Jacobs 2003). Nearly all habitats suitable for nesting Peregrine Falcons (e.g., exposed cliffs, including unused nests of the Common Raven [Corvus corax] and Golden Eagle [Aquila chrysaetos]) along main river areas in the FNWSR were visited during the nesting and nestling productivity periods in 2004 and 2006 (Figure 1, Table 1).

The surveys for Peregrine Falcons in the FNWSR varied among sections of the river in 2004 and 2006. In 2004, we surveyed six sections of the Fortymile River:

• Middle Fork from Joseph landing-strip to North Fork (2 surveys),

• North Fork to Fortymile Main Stem (2 sur-veys),

• Fortymile Main Stem from North Fork to O’Brien Creek (2 surveys),

• Entire South Fork (2 surveys),

• West Fork from West Fork Campground to Dennison Fork, (occupancy survey only), and

• Dennison Fork from West Fork to South Fork, (occupancy survey only).

In 2006, we surveyed four of those six sections of the Fortymile River:

• Middle Fork from Joseph landing-strip to North Fork (2 surveys),

• North Fork to Fortymile Main Stem (2 sur-veys),

• Fortymile Main Stem from North Fork to O’Brien Creek (2 surveys), and

• Entire South Fork (2 surveys).

Other “floatable” (i.e., the portions of the river accessible by canoe or raft) sections of the FNWSR inventoried in 2000–2001 include one mile up the

Reda cted

Reda cted

Reda cted

Study Area

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys 2

Figure 1. Study areas for Peregrine Falcon surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2004 and 2006.

Methods

3 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

North Fork (upstream of the confluence of the Middle and the North forks—which requires overland travel), the Main Stem from O’Brien Creek to the U.S.–Canada border, and a small section of the Walker Fork. These three areas were not surveyed in 2004 and 2006 because of logistical and budgetary constraints. In addition, the West Fork/Dennison Fork was not surveyed in 2006 and was only surveyed once in 2004, during the occupancy survey period. For the purposes of consistency within this report, we will refer to the 2006 study area as the “FNWSR Monitoring Area.”

METHODS

A raft or canoe was used to access suitable habitats along portions of the FNWSR during occupancy surveys in 2004 and 2006 (27 May–9 June 2004; 24 May–2 June 2006) and productivity surveys in 2006 (9–17 July 2006). A Robinson 44 helicopter was used to monitor nesting success and productivity in 2004 (25 July 2004). To access the Middle Fork, North Fork, and Main Stem, we flew into the Joseph Airstrip to begin the float, while we accessed the South Fork and Main Stem from the road system. All surveys were led by a raptor biologist experienced with techniques for determining the status and productivity of Peregrine Falcon nest sites.

The standard protocol for the occupancy survey included floating to known or suitable cliff habitats and, from a reasonable distance (100 m+), scrutinizing cliffs for adult peregrines or their sign (e.g., white-wash, used scrapes). Observers occasionally employed a tape-recording of a ‘wee-chup’ call, which regularly elicits a response from territorial birds (e.g., returning the call, moving locations). Depending on the habitat structure and history of occupancy, if peregrines were not observed a minimum of 2 hours was spent at small bluffs (e.g., <20 m in height), and 4 hours at larger and/or more complex cliff substrates.

To determine the success and productivity of nests, we visited cliffs a second time during the nestling period. Productivity surveys were conducted on 25 July 2004 (one observer by helicopter) and on 9–17 July 2006 (two observers in an inflatable canoe). This time frame was chosen to coincide with a period when young are relatively large (i.e., >3 weeks old) and more easily detected.

We checked known nest sites to count nestlings

Table 1. Location and river mileage (from BLM) of Peregrine Falcon surveys on the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River, Alaska, 2004 and 2006.

Start End

Year/

Drainage Location River

Mileage Location River

Mileage Total (mi)

Middle Fork Joseph Airstrip 0.0 North Fork confluence 41.5 41.5

North Fork Middle Fork confluence 24.7 Main Stem confluence 56.5 31.8

Main Stem North Fork confluence 0.0 O'Brien Creek/Taylor Hwy 16.2 16.2

South Fork Dennison Fork confluence 0.0 Main Stem confluence 27.2 27.2

West Fork West Fork Bridge/Taylor Hwy 5.1 Dennison Fork confluence 13.2 8.1 Dennison Fork West Fork confluence 0.0 South Fork confluence 17.8 17.8

142.6

2006 – FNWSR Monitoring Area

Middle Fork Joseph Airstrip 0.0 North Fork confluence 41.5 41.5

North Fork Middle Fork confluence 24.7 Main Stem confluence 56.5 31.8

Main Stem North Fork confluence 0.0 O'Brien Creek/Taylor Hwy 16.2 16.2

South Fork Dennison Fork confluence 0.0 Main Stem confluence 27.2 27.2

116.7 jherrige Highlight

Results and Discussion

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys 4 and to inspect the condition of each site. Historical and ‘high potential’ sites were revisited, regardless of their status during the earlier occupancy survey, to maximize detection of nesting pairs that may have been missed during the first survey.

Although we had originally proposed to conduct all of our surveys via boat, active forest fires in the area forced us to conduct the productivity survey in 2004 in a helicopter. This survey took only one day (~4 hr survey time), instead of approximately 10 days by boat. During the helicopter survey, standard procedures included flying along the center of each drainage, then angling toward known nest sites when the aircraft was approximately 0.8–1.6 km (0.5–1.0 mi) horizontal distance from a cliff. In an effort to reduce helicopter time (no fuel was available nearby), we did not revisit sites of other raptors during the productivity survey. As per BLM instructions, we did not enter nest sites in either year during the productivity surveys and we made all efforts to reduce our impact on the behavior of nesting birds during all surveys.

During occupancy and productivity surveys the status of each site was recorded if it had one or more Peregrine Falcons (Appendix 1). All data were entered on USFWS raptor nest observation cards and in field notebooks (see supplemental Appendices 2 and 3). Data included number of adults observed, behaviors, and nest location information (including a digital photograph of the cliff and nest location; see supplemental Appendices 4 and 5). Definitions of nest-site status followed the National Wildlife Federation Raptor Management Techniques Manual’s guidelines (Steenhof 1987). A nesting territory was considered occupied if a pair of adults or an incubating adult was observed during the occupancy survey, or if nestlings were observed during the productivity survey. A site was considered successful if at least one live nestling was observed during the productivity survey. For each survey, we recorded locations of raptor nests on USGS 1:63,360 maps and determined coordinates of known and potential nest sites with a geographic positioning system (GPS) unit.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

SPRING AND SUMMER CONDITIONS

The breeding season (May to August) for Peregrine Falcons in interior Alaska was hot and dry in 2004, compared to long-term average weather conditions for this period (Table 2).

Summer started with a considerably warmer (+3.4° F) and slightly wetter (+0.6 in) than average May, and a record warmer (+8.1 °F) and drier June (-1.4 in) (monthly average temperature of 65.2 °F was 4.4 °F higher than the previous high [60.8 °F, 1953]). July also was appreciably warmer than average (+2.4°F) having only slightly higher than average precipitation (+0.3 in; from unpublished weather records, Western Regional Climate Center [WRCC], Reno, Nevada). Several thunderstorms during this period resulted in the worst year of forest fires on record for the State of Alaska: 6.7 million acres burned, including parts of the Fortymile drainages (1.4 million acres in Eastern Alaska; unpublished fire records, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Reports, BLM, Alaska). These warm and dry conditions during summer 2004 resulted in lowered water levels on the Fortymile, making several of the forks inaccessible by boat. Low water levels and smoke also may have created unfavorable conditions for prey species of peregrines (especially waterfowl and shorebirds) and hunting conditions for nesting peregrines.

The breeding season (May to August) for Peregrine Falcons in interior Alaska was near average in 2006, compared to long-term weather conditions for this period (Table 2). Summer started with a slightly warmer (+1.5° F) and slightly drier (-0.2 in) May, and a slightly warmer (+1.3 °F) and wetter (+1.1 in) June. July was also slightly warmer than average (+1.1°F) having only slightly lower than average precipitation (-1.0 in; from unpublished weather records, Western Regional Climate Center [WRCC], Reno, Nevada). Unlike summer 2004, no significant fires or smoke occurred in the Fortymile area in 2006, thus surveys were conducted on schedule. River levels also were adequate to allow boat surveys in May, June, and July.

jherrige Highlight jherrige Highlight

5 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

OCCUPANCY AND PRODUCTIVITY

We counted 26 pairs and 8 single Peregrine Falcons at 34 cliffs along the Fortymile River, Alaska, during May–July 2004 (Figure 2, Table 3, Appendix 1). In 2000 and 2001, Jacobs (2003) completed the first inclusive surveys of these drainages and counted 15 pairs of Peregrine Falcons and 1 single bird in 2000 and 18 pairs of Peregrine Falcons and 2 single birds in 2001 in the same area we surveyed in 2004. The count of nesting pairs in 2004 may be a conservative number because fires and smoke forced us to hurriedly conduct the productivity survey from a helicopter. In previous years, ground investigations during productivity surveys often yielded new nest sites in circumstances where peregrines were late nesters, temporarily absent, or showed ambiguous/misleading behaviors during the occupancy survey, thus if we had been able to spend additional time observing in 2004 we may have added additional nest sites.

Table 2. Weather records (monthly averages) and deviations from monthly long-term means (temperature [°F] and precipitation [in]) during May–July at Eagle, Alaska, 2000–2006 (long-term means: 1950–2006, from unpublished weather records, WRCC, Reno, Nevada).

Year

Month Variable 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2006

May Ave Temp 42.3 42.2 45.8 45.3 48.5 46.8 Long-term Mean 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 Deviation -2.9 -3.0 +0.6 +0.2 +3.4 +1.5 Ave Precip 1.1 1.5 0.8 0.7 1.6 0.8 Long-term Mean 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Deviation +0.1 +0.5 -0.2 -0.3 +0.6 -0.2

June Ave Temp 58.8 57.2 57.5 55.8 65.2 58.5 Long-term Mean 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 Deviation +1.7 +0.1 +0.4 -1.3 +8.1 +1.3

Ave Precip 2.3 1.0 2.2 1.9 0.2 2.8 Long-term Mean 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

Deviation +0.6 -0.7 +0.5 +0.2 -1.4 +1.1

July Ave Temp 58.4 58.3 58.9 61.2 62.3 61.0 Long-term Mean 59.9 59.9 59.9 59.9 59.9 59.9 Deviation -1.6 -1.6 -1.0 +1.2 +2.4 +1.1 Ave Precip 3.9 4.7 1.5 2.9 2.5 1.3 Long-term Mean 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 Deviation +1.6 +2.5 -0.8 +0.7 +0.3 -1.0

Summer Ave Temp 53.1 52.6 54.0 54.1 58.7 55.4

Long-term Mean 54.1 54.1 54.1 54.1 54.1 54.1 Deviation -0.9 -1.5 0 0 +4.6 +1.3

Ave Precip 2.4 2.4 1.5 1.9 1.4 1.6 Long-term Mean 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

Deviation +0.8 +0.7 -0.1 +0.2 -0.2 0.0

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys 6

Figure 2. Distribution, occupancy, and nest fate of Peregrine Falcon sites recorded during boat and aerial surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2004.

7 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

Table 3. Occupancy, nesting success, and productivity of Peregrine Falcons on the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River, Alaska, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2006. Subtotals for 2000, 2001, and 2004 indicate results for FNWSR Monitoring Area (2006 study area).

Occupancy Productivity

Year / Drainage Single Adults No. Pairs No. Successful

Pairs Minimum No.

Nestlings Young per Total Pair

Young per Successful Pair

Middle Fork 0 5 2 3 0.6 1.5

North Forka 0 3 2 5 1.7 2.5

Main Fork 1 2 2 3 1.5 1.5

South Fork 0 4 1 1 0.3 1.0

SUBTOTAL 1 14 7 12 0.9 1.7

West Fork 0 0 0 0 na na Dennison Fork 0 1 1 1 1.0 1.0

TOTALS 1 15 8 13 0.9 1.6

Middle Fork 0 5 4 8 1.6 2.0

North Forka 1 6 3 8 1.3 2.7

Main Fork 0 3 3 4 1.3 1.3 South Fork 1 2 2 2 1.0 1.0

SUBTOTAL 2 16 12 22 1.4 1.8

West Fork 0 0 0 0 na na Dennison Fork 0 2 2 3 1.5 1.5

TOTALS 2 18 14 25 1.4 1.8

Middle Fork 1 7 3 5 0.7 1.7 North Fork 5 6 3 6 1.0 2.0

Main Fork 2 5 5 8 1.6 1.6 South Fork 0 5 2 4 0.8 2.0

SUBTOTAL 8 23 13 23 1.0 1.8

West Fork 0 1 unkb unkb unkb unkb

Dennison Fork 0 2 unkb unkb unkb unkb

TOTALS 8 26 unkb unkb unkb unkb

Middle Fork 0 6 3 7 1.2 2.3

North Fork 2 11 10 21 1.9 2.1 Main Fork 2 6 5 9 1.5 1.8

South Fork 2 7 3 6 0.9 2.0

TOTALS 6 30 21 43 1.4 2.0

a One nest 1 mi upstream of confluence with Main Fork not included here.

b No productivity survey completed in 2004.

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys 8

At least 13 pairs (57% of 23 pairs; we were unable to recheck 3 pairs for success and productivity) of Peregrine Falcons were successful in the 2004 FNWSR study area (Table 3). Success was low when compared to other years and other populations of peregrines in Alaska. For example, nesting success on the Fortymile River varied from 53% in 2000 (8 of 15 pairs successful) to 78% in 2001 (14 of 18 pairs successful) (Jacobs 2003).

Mean nesting success was 66% (range 45–81%) in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands for 1994–2003 (Ritchie and Shook 2003) and 70% (range 0–100%) on the Tanana River for 1968–2003 (excluding 1969, 1976, and 2001) (Shook et al. 2003). Finally, although mean nesting success for peregrines along the upper Yukon River was 69% during 1975–2004 (range 38–94%; Ambrose 2004), productivity also was low in that region in 2004 (41%; Ambrose 2004) where fires and smoky conditions also predominated.

In 2004, a minimum of 23 nestlings were produced at 13 successful nests in the study area for a mean brood size of 1.8 yg/successful pair (1.0 yg/total pair; Table 3). On the same stretches of the Fortymile River, productivity ranged from

1.7 yg/successful pair (0.9 yg/total pair) in 2000 to

1.8 yg/successful pair (1.4 yg/total pair) in 2001 (Jacobs 2003). Along the upper Yukon River in 2004, mean brood size was 2.0 yg/successful pair (0.8 yg/total pair; but only 39 of 52 occupied sites were revisted in 2004 due to smoke), the second lowest year of productivity since 1975 (1975–2004; mean = 2.4 yg/successful pair, mean = 1.7 yg/total pair).

Weather can affect the breeding parameters (e.g., number of eggs, young, nesting success, productivity) of a variety of raptors by direct (exposure) and indirect (decreased availability of prey) effects (Newton 1979). Nesting success and productivity at several sites could have been influenced directly by the hot, dry conditions and the forest fires and associated smoke that dominated the nesting season (Table 2). These conditions also may have indirectly reduced the number and/or availability of some prey species that use the Fortymile drainages (e.g., waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines).

Observations of human disturbance near nest sites were recorded opportunistically during the surveys in 2004. On 8 June 2004, during the occupancy survey, we observed one gas-powered suction dredge in operation 400 m downstream of nest site SF25 (this site was successful). Boats observed on the river were all small- to medium-sized jet boats traveling on the North Fork, Main Stem, and South Fork, but we saw no human-peregrine interactions. We were not able to record any human activity observed during the helicopter productivity survey due to time/fuel constraints.

We counted 30 pairs and 6 single Peregrine Falcons at 36 cliffs in the FNWSR Monitoring Area (2006 study area) during May–July 2006 (Figure 3, Table 3, Appendix 1). Earlier surveys in the FNWSR Monitoring Area recorded 14 pairs and a single bird and 16 pairs and 2 single birds in 2000 and 2001, respectively (Jacobs 2003). In 2004, we counted 23 pairs and 8 single peregrines in the FNWSR Monitoring Area. Earlier helicopter-based surveys during 1994–1997 (Ritchie et al. 1998), and less intensive BLM surveys during 2002–2003 (Kevan Cooper pers comm.) reported nesting peregrines in the area, but results are not comparable with the more intensive surveys in 2000, 2001, or 2004, due to different study areas and methodologies.

At least 21 pairs (70% of 30 pairs) of Peregrine Falcons were successful in producing at least 1 young in the FNWSR Monitoring Area in 2006 (Table 3). A re-nesting attempt may have occurred between sites MF34 and MF35 (just 300 m [straight-line distance] apart). On the occupancy survey, MF34 was unoccupied with an observed empty ledge while MF35 had an incubating adult, but on the productivity survey we saw an adult pump down into incubation posture (appeared to be on eggs; this nest was classified as unsuccessful) at the ledge at MF34, while the MF35 site had an observed empty ledge.

Nesting success was average to high in 2006 when compared to other years in the study area and other populations of peregrines in Alaska. In the FNWSR Monitoring Area, nesting success varied annually, with 50% in 2000 (7 of 14 pairs successful; Jacobs 2003), 57% in 2004 (13 of 23 pairs successful), and 75% in 2001 (12 of 16 pairs

9 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys

Figure 3. Distribution, occupancy, and nest fate of Peregrine Falcon sites recorded during boat surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska, 2006.

Summary and Conclusions

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys 10 successful; Jacobs 2003). On the Tanana River between Tetlin Crossing and Fairbanks, nesting success was high (89%) in 2006 (Ritchie and Maguire 2006) and had a mean nesting success of 70% (range 0–100%) for 1968–2003 (not including 1969, 1976, or 2001; Shook et al. 2003). In the Yukon-Tanana uplands, mean nesting success was 66% (range 45–81%) for 1994–2003 (Ritchie and Shook 2003). On the upper Yukon River nesting success was average (60%; 27 of 45 pairs; Melanie Wilk, NPS pers comm) and mean nesting success was 69% during 1975–2004 (range 38–94%;

Ambrose 2004).

In 2006, a minimum of 43 nestlings were produced at 21 successful nests for a mean brood size of 2.0 yg/successful pair (1.4 yg/total pair;

Table 3). In the FNWSR Monitoring Area, productivity has ranged from 1.7 yg/successful pair (0.9 yg/total pair) in 2000 (Jacobs 2003) to 1.8 yg/successful pair in 2001 and 2004 (1.4 yg/total pair in 2001; 1.0 yg/total pair in 2004 [Jacobs 2003]). Relatively good production in 2006 may reflect the relatively mild weather during the incubation and nestling periods, as well as improved air-quality conditions (i.e., lack of forest fires in 2006 compared to 2004; Table 2).

We only have a few observations regarding human-peregrine interactions in the study area in 2006. On July 15, a long-term mining camp was recorded directly across from nest SF11, although the dredge was not operating during our visit.

Another active long-term mining camp with a dredge was located 400 m downstream of nest SF19 on July 16. Both nests were successful. Boats observed on the river were small- to medium-sized jet boats or hovercraft traveling on the North Fork, Main Stem and South Fork, but we saw no human-peregrine interactions from boat traffic or at camp/dredge sites.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The river segments surveyed in 2006 are the only segments that have been monitored consistently in all previous years (2000, 2001, 2004) that systematic Peregrine Falcon surveys have been conducted on the FNWSR. We propose that the 2006 study area become the “FNWSR Monitoring Area” to facilitate consistency in monitoring this important species. We suggest that future monitoring efforts include all segments sampled in 2006 to allow comparisons of results with these four years of systematic surveys. The Main Stem from O’Brien Creek to the U.S.–Canada border adds several days to surveys with the addition of few nest sites; also, the canyon can become very dangerous during flood events.

The West, Dennison, and Walker forks of the Fortymile add several days to surveys, yield low numbers of nest sites, and often have water levels that are too low to consistently float during the productivity survey period in July (Kevan Cooper, BLM pers comm., Hank Timm, USFWS pers comm., Jacobs 2003, Shook and Ritchie 2004).

Additionally, if all river segments were included, it would typically require two separate, qualified crews surveying them concurrently within the prescribed time window to accurately determine occupancy and productivity. Although the FNWSR Monitoring Area is also subject to stochastic landscape/weather events such as fires and drought, we feel that this area provides the most logistically feasible and consistent access to a high number of suitable nest sites both within more remote “Wild” portions and more impacted “Scenic” portions of FNWSR.

Occupied Peregrine Falcon sites in FNWSR Monitoring Area have increased annually since 2000 (14 pairs in 2000, 16 pairs in 2001, 23 pairs in 2004, 30 pairs in 2006). The substantial increase in nesting Peregrine Falcons warrants additional and regular monitoring (standardized occupancy and productivity surveys) along the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River corridor because as peregrines start using new nest cliffs, increased human-peregrine interactions may occur. Further, it will be important to document the continued recovery of the Peregrine Falcon population in this region, while establishing a more complete baseline than has been recorded in the past.

Peregrine Falcons have been known to abandon nest sites resulting from disturbance by increased levels of human activity (White et al.

2002). To reduce potential negative interactions between humans and nesting peregrines, we would suggest informing miners of Peregrine Falcon site locations, accompanied with suggestions for positioning their dredges and camps to minimize disturbance to nesting birds. We would also suggest that miners limit the amount of their

Literature Cited

11 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Surveys disturbance during the nesting season, especially during nest initiation and egg-laying (late April–early June), when peregrines may be more susceptible to disturbance. Finally, broad objectives within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act include habitat protection, and the most important components of peregrine habitat requiring special attention are traditional nesting places (eyries), which should be protected from physical alteration or destruction and from excessive human disturbances that might cause abandonment or repeated reproductive failure (White et al. 2002).

LITERATURE CITED

Ambrose, S., and C. Florian. 2004. American peregrine falcons along the upper Yukon River, Alaska, 2004. Unpublished report, prepared for the U.S. Air Force, 611 CES/CEVP, Eleventh Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK, by Natural Sounds Program, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 14 pp.

Ambrose, R. E., R. J. Ritchie, C. M. White, P. F.

Schempf, T. Swem, and R. Dittrick. 1988.

Changes in the Status of Peregrine Falcon Populations in Alaska. Pages 73–82 in T .J.

Cade, J. H. Enderson, C. G. Thelander, and C.

M. White, eds. Peregrine Falcon Populations:

Their Management and Recovery. The Peregrine Fund, Inc. Boise, ID.

Jacobs, J. M. 2003. Factors influencing the productivity of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) in the Fortymile Wild and Scenic River corridor, Alaska. MS Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK. 48 pp.

Newton, I. 1979. Population ecology of raptors.

Buteo Books, Vermillion, SD.

Ritchie, R. J., and J. Maguire. 2006. Peregrine Falcon monitoring on the Tanana River, Alaska, 2006. Unpubl. final report prep. for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK, by Fairbanks, AK.

Ritchie, R. J., and J. E. Shook. 2003. Peregrine Falcon surveys in Yukon MOAs 1 and 2, Alaska, 2003. Final report prep. for National Park Service, Soundscapes, Fort Collins, CO, by ., Fairbanks, AK. 15 pp.

Ritchie, R. J., S. M. Murphy, and M. D. Smith.

1998. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) surveys and noise monitoring in Yukon MOAs 1–5 and along the Tanana River, Alaska, 1995–1997. Unpubl. final report prep. for U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Alaska Cooperative Wildlife and Fisheries Research Unit, and Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, by

, Fairbanks, AK.

Shook, J. E., and R. J. Ritchie. 2004. Peregrine Falcon surveys in the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Alaska, 2004.

Unpubl. final report prep. for the Bureau of Land Management , Fairbanks, AK, by

, Fairbanks, AK.

Shook, J. E., R. J. Ritchie, and J. R. Rose. 2003.

Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle surveys on the Tanana River, Alaska, 2003. Unpubl. draft report prep. for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Dep. Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK, by ., Fairbanks, AK.

Steenhof, K. 1987. Assessing raptor reproductive success and productivity. Pages 157–170 in Pendleton, B. A., B. A. Millsap, K. W. Cline, and D. M. Bird, eds. Raptor Management Techniques Manual. National Wildlife Federation, Scientific and Technical Series No. 10. Washington, D.C.

White, C. M., N.J. Clum, T. J. Cade and W. G.

Hunt. 2002. Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus. In A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 48 pp.

Redacted

Redacted

Redac ted

Redac ted

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Suveys 12

Appendix 1. Status of Peregrine Falcon sites from occupancy and productivity surveys on the Fortymile River, Alaska, 2004 and 2006.

Status

Year / Nest IDa Drainage Occupancyb Productivityc Final Status

MF01 Middle pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful

MF09 Middle pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful MF13 Middle pr(inc) 3 yg successful

MF22 Middle pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful MF26 Middle single 2 yg successful

MF28 Middle single unoc single MF32 Middle pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful

MF34 Middle pr(inc) 2 yg successful NF25 North single single single

NF28 North pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful NF30 North unoc single single

NF36 North single unoc single NF39 North single unoc single

NF40 North pr(inc) 1 yg successful NF43 North pr(inc) 2 yg successful

NF48 North pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful NF51 North single unoc single

NF53 North pr(inc) 3 yg successful NF56 North pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful

FM02 Main pr(inc) 1 yg successful FM05 Main single single single

FM05 Main single unoc single FM07 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful

FM10 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful FM14 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful

FM15 Main pr(inc) 1 yg successful SF13 South pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful

SF17 South pr(inc) 2 yg successful SF20 South pr single unsuccessful

SF22 South pr pr unsuccessful SF24 South pr(inc) 2 yg successful

WF11 West pr ns unknown DF03 Dennison pr(inc) ns unknown

DF13 Dennison pr(inc) ns unknown

13 Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Suveys

Appendix 1. Continued.

Status

Year / Nest IDa Drainage Occupancyb Productivityc Final Status

MF01 Middle single unoc single

MF09 Middle single unoc single MF13 Middle pr(inc) 2 yg successful

MF22 Middle pr(inc) 3 yg successful MF28 Middle pr 2 yg successful

MF32 Middle pr(inc) single unsuccessful MF34 Middle unoc pr(inc) unsuccessful

MF35 Middle pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful NF25 North single pr unsuccessful

NF28 North pr(inc) 3 yg successful NF30 North single 1 yg successful

NF31 North pr 3 yg successful NF33 North pr(inc) 1 yg successful

NF36 North single 1 yg successful NF37 North single unoc single

NF40 North pr(inc) 3 yg successful NF44 North single unoc single

NF45 North pr(inc) 2 yg successful

NF48 North pr(inc) 1 yg successful NF53 North single 3 yg successful

NF56 North pr(inc) 1 yg successful FM02 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful

FM03 Main pr single unsuccessful FM07 Main pr(inc) 1 yg successful

FM10 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful FM12 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful

FM14 Main pr(inc) 2 yg successful SF07 South pr(inc) unoc unsuccessful

SF08 South single unoc single SF11 South pr(inc) 3 yg successful

SF13 South single unoc single SF17 South pr(inc) single unsuccessful

SF18 South pr pr unsuccessful SF19 South pr 2 yg successful

SF22 South pr(inc) single unsuccessful SF24 South pr(inc) 1 yg successful a Using BLM river mileage. MF = Middle Fork, NF = North Fork, FM = Fortymile Main Stem, WF = West Fork, DF = Dennison Fork, SF = South Fork, L = River Left, R = River Right.

b pr = pair of adults; pr(inc) = pair incubating nest.

c unoc = unoccupied site, y = young, single = single adult, pr = pair; ns = not surveyed.

Fortymile Peregrine Falcon Suveys 14

Appendix 2. Completed USFWS raptor nest cards for successful or suspected peregrine nest locations. See CD containing scanned raptor cards (Adobe .pdf’s).

Appendix 3. Digital (scanned) copies of all field notes. See CD containing scanned field notes (Adobe .pdf’s).

Appendix 4. Labeled digital photographs of raptor nest site locations. See CD containing containing photo index (Adobe .pdf’s).

Appendix 5. Arc view compatible data file of raptor nest locations using latitude and longitude coordinates. See CD containing Arcview compatible files.